Record controlled accumulating mechanism



July 3, 1951 R. B. JOHNSON Q 2,558,961

RECORD CONTROLLED ACCUMULATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR REY/VOLD 8 dOl/MSOA/ BY M ATTORN EY July 3, 1951 R. B. JOHNSON RECORD CONTROLLED ACCUMULATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1950 INVENTOR REM/0L0 B. dO/lMSO/V BY 0&W

' ATTORNEY INSULA TION July 3, 1951 R. B. JOHNSON 2,553,961

RECORD CONTROLLED ACCUMULATING MECHANISM 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 9i Carr u MECf/AAl/CA KNOC/(OUT ca c/ RELATCH 39 INVENTOR REYNOLD B. JOHNSON ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1951 RECORD CONTROLLED ACCUMULATING MECHANISM Reynold B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 5, 1950, Serial No. 136,967

11 Claims.

This invention relates to tabulating machines and more particularly to the accumulating mechanism of such machines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a greatly simplified accumulator unit construction to the end that greater operating speed may be attained.

An object of the invention is to construct a light-weight or low mass accumulator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of parts for the clutching mechanism of such type unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved accumulator unit wherein the rotatable contact brushes of a related readout commutator do not engage the contact pins while .the accumulator unit is in motion thereby reducing the loss of speed due to frictional engagement between said brushes and pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for an accumulator whereby designations on a record card representative of the digits may control the advance of an adding wheel to any one of ten rotative positions.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view with parts broken away of the assembled accumulator mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the accumulating element disengaged from the constant speed assembly and in engagement with the readout unit.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the accumulating element engaging the constant speed driving assembly.

Fig. 7 is a timing diagram.

Fig. 8 constitutes a wiring diagram of the circuits for controlling the operation of the accumulating mechanism.

."The accumulator unit comprises a mounting plate 50 which has fixed to it, through bearing 53 (Fig. 2), one end of a constant speed driving assembly comprising shaft Ill having spur gear l4 and toothed coupling IB-rigidly united therewith (see Fig. 3). Shaft It is suitably geared to card feed rollers 60 (Fig. 8) of well known record card feeding devices so as to make one half revolution for each cycle of operation, that is, shaft 0 makes a half revolution during the passage of a card past the usual sensing brushes LB. The interval between the lowest perforating rows of the successive cards is termed a cycle of operation of the machine. Gear I4 is continuously driven in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) by gear 55 which in turn is driven from any suitable source. The other end of shaft I0 is supported in bearing l2 through collar l and said bearing is fixed to coupling l3 which is interposed between it and insulating block "5.

An accumulating or driven element 5| is freely mounted on shaft l0 and is set in motion by engagement with coupling l5 of the driving assembly which has twenty angular or saw-shaped teeth on the coupling face. Accumulating element 5| includes two vanes 6 positioned at apart by plastic sleeve 9 which carries positioning disk 8 and contact wire or wiper I8 having two ends positioned 180 apart. This element 5| is associated with a readout device 52 (see Fig. 4) comprising insulating block |6, ten contact pins spaced at 18 intervals and common segment Ila. Rigidly fixed to insulating block I6 is a coupling member I3 having twenty angular or saw-shaped teeth on its face. Contact pins I! are engaged by one end of wire l8, while the oppositely disposed end engages the common segment l'la to complete a circuit through the contact wire between a contact pin I1 and said common segment.

The control of accumulating element 5| is supervised by means of an armature mechanism which moves accumulating element 5| into and out of engagement with coupling l5 of the constant speed assembly. Stop and advance magnets and 2 attract common armature 3 (Fig. 2) when each in turn is energized. The movement of armature 3 is transmitted to armature yoke 4 which engages positioning disk 8 carried by plastic sleeve 9. Spacing stud separates the disk engaging ends of armature yoke arms 48 and 49 and also serves to detent the accumulating element 5| in either the advance or readout position. Armature yoke 4 is pivoted on pivot block 23 and adjusting screws 24 cooperate with pivot spacer 25 to effect any desired adjustment of armature yoke 4. When the advance magnet 2 is energized, accumulating element 5| is moved along shaft ID from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 6 and engages coupling |5 by means of the two vanes 5 engaging the saw-shaped teeth on the face of coupling I5. The shape of the teeth is designed to correct any misalignment of the accumulating element 5| and the constant speed members. At the same time, contact wire I8 will disengage from the readout device 52 as shown. Also, vanes 6 will disengage from the grammatically in Fig. 8.

teeth of stop coupling I3 just prior to the engagement of the opposite ends of the vanes with coupling |5. The accumulating element 5| will rotate in mesh with the coupling l5 until a stop impulse is received from the control members.

When the stop impulse is received from the control unit, stop magnet is energized and the common armature 3 is attracted to operate the accumulating element 5| in a manner similar to the operation of the advance magnet 2 but in the opposite direction. Thus, accumulating element 5| is disengaged from the coupling l5 and will stop with the contact wire I8 in a new position. The contact wire engage with the readout device 52 and establishes a new circuit between one of the contact pins I1 and the common segment I la. Engagement of the vanes 6 with the sawshaped teeth on the face of stop control coupling l3 corrects any misalignment of the contact wire l8 and the contact pins I! and holds the accumulating element in a particular radial position.

The advance made by the accumulating element 5| is equal to the interval the advance impulse was received before the stop impulse was received. Thus, if the advance impulse was received five units before the stop impulse, the accumulating element 5| of the accumulator would advance five contact points.

The carry at the 9s position is controlled by a spring urged pawl 20 pivoted on a support arm 54. When accumulating element 5| stops in the 9 position, vane 6 is situated directly under the tip of pawl 20. In this position vane 6 will have tripped pawl 29 which in turn releases contact carrier latch 2| and the related contact wire 30 held by an insulating block 2|a to latch 2| drops against contact 31 to complete a circuit between contacts 36 and 3'! as shown in Fig. 5 and dia- Since vanes 6 remain in the 9s position until they are repositioned by the operation of the advance and stop magnets and the interconnecting mechanism, the circuit between contacts 36 and 3! remains closed. This circuit will, however, be momentaril broken when reset bail 38 is operated by carry restoring stud 39 near the end of the cycle.

The carry between the nine and zero position is controlled in a similar manner. Spring urged pawl l9 also lies in the path of vane 6 so that rotation of vane 6 beyond pawl 20, i. e., advance of the accumulating unit from its 9 to 0 position will result in pawl I9 being tripped. Contact wire which is held by an insulating block 34a to latch 34 then drops to complete a circuit between contacts 3| and 33, and breaks the circuit between contacts 3| and 32 (see Figs. 5 and 8). This circuit, unlike the circuit of the 9s position, is operated between the nine and zero position and the circuit between contacts 3| and 33 is reopened by the operation of the reset bail 38 near the'end of the cycle.

Both carry mechanisms are restored at a point in the machine cycle by a spring urged restoring bail or pawl 38 provided with tail 38a (Fig. 3) which lies in the path of carry restoring stud 39 mounted on drive gear |4. At the restoring point in the machine cycle, stud 39 engages tail 38a of pawl 38. Arm 38b of pawl 38 moves latches 2| and 34 to their original position, breaking the related circuits and allowing pawls l9 and 20, under the influence of springs 21, to return to their original positions. However, if the accumulating element 5| is at rest in the 9s position, the 9s carry circuit will return to the closed position.

' Inorder to control the positive return of the armature to the stop position at a definite time in the machine cycle a mechanical knockout device is provided. Spring blade 22 is mounted on block 4| directly under armature yoke 4 and carries stud 46 which rides near the surface of the gear Hi. When the cam rise 40 of the gear surface is in position to engage spring blade stud 46, spring blade 22 is forced against the edges of armature yoke l. This action disengages the accumulating element 5| from coupling |5 of the driving assembly if the stop magnet I has not received an impulse.

A spring blade 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided to impositively retain the yoke 4 in either of its Fig. 2 or Fig. 4 positions.

The construction and operation of the accumu lator unit has been described in detail and a brief explanation will now be given to indicate the manner in which the parts are timed in relation to the rest of the machine.

Referring to Fig. '7, the line indicated at C5 represents the time at which circuits are completed to the magnet 2 in response to the analysis of perforations in the index point positions of the record cards as the latter pass through the machine. If a 9 is to be added, the circuit to the magnet 2 is completed at the 9 time and accumulatin element 5| is rotated through nine steps at which time leading cam rise 40 will cause disengagement of the clutch elements I5 and 5|. A representative circuit is traceable from right side of line, through contacts C5, common contact roller 6|, 9 hole in the card, brush LB, connection 62 and magnet 2 to left side of line. If the magnet 2 has been energized in response to a 3, the clutch engagement would have taken place at the 3 time and been disengaged by leading cam rise All. It is thus seen that the time of engagement is variable and the knockout or disengagin time occurs at a fixed point in the cycle.

In the interval between the two cam rises 40, carry operations take place under control of the contact CI to add a unit into appropriate orders. The time of completion of this carry circuit as indicated on line CI of Fig. '7 is one point before the second cam rise 43 effects disengagement of the accumulating element 5| from the coupling |5.

In Fig. 8 is shown a new form of the carry circuit controllin devices. In the prior art, the 9s carry circuit is broken when the l0s carry operation is progressin by withdrawing the contact wire from its mating contact point. In the present invention the 9s carry circuit is broken by the l0s carry contact wire dropping to complete the tens carry circuit, thereby leaving the 9s carry contact wire in a position of engagement with its mating contact point. Contact wire 30 drops against contact point 31 to complete a circuit between contact points 36 and 3'! in the carry 9s position. The 9s carry circuit leads to common contact point 32 upon which contact wire 35 rests while in the inoperative position. The circuit to the next higher order is completed through contact wire 35 which drops from the contact point 32 to contact point 33 for the 10s carry position. This brakes the 9s carry circuit and completes a circuit between contact points 3! and 33.

To better explain the carry operation, let it be'assumed that at the carry period in the cycle, the units order has passed through zero and that the tens order stands at 9. The carry contact wires 30 and 35 in these two orders will then order, contact 3%, contact 32, wire 35 in the tens order, contact 3| to start magnet 2 in the hundreds order. The accumulating units in the tens and hundreds orders will accordingly be advanced one unit.

It will be noted that, if the tens order had been advanced through zero, its wire 35 would have been shifted to disengage from the contact 32 and thereby prevent the completion of the branch circuit.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An accumulating unit for a tabulating machine comprising, a driving assembly, an accumulating element, means for moving said accumulating element into and out of engagement with said driving assembly, linkage connecting said accumulating element with said means, and a readout device, said accumulatin element engaging said readout device when moved to a position out of engagement with said driving assembly.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, said means consisting of an advance magnet and a stop magnet and a common armature between them which, upon energization of said advance magnet operates said linkage to hold said accumulating element in engagement with the driving assembly and upon energization of said stop magnet operates said linkage to move said accumulating element out from engagement with the driving assembly into contact with the readout device.

3. An accumulating unit for a tabulating machine comprising a constantly rotating driving assembly, an accumulating element carrying a contact wire, and a readout device which is engaged by the contact wire of said accumulating element only when the accumulating element is disengaged from said driving assembly.

4. An accumulating unit for a tabulating machine comprising a driving assembly, an accumulating element, a readout device unit and magnet means for positioning an armature which controls the accumulating element, and spring blade means for controlling the positive return of the armature to a position whereby said accumulating element is stopped from further rotation.

5. In an accumulating unit for an accounting machine having an accumulating element which is to be advanced to any of a plurality of rotative positons to represent difierent amounts, including 7 a constant speed driving assembly for movingsaid accumulating element, a readout device for engaging a contact wire carried by said accumulating element, a control mechanism for positioning the accumulating element comprising a mag- 75 net controlled armature and a yoke, and a spring blade associated with said armature for controlling the positive return of the armature to a position whereby said accumulating element is stopped from further rotation.

6. In a cyclically operable accumulating mech anism of the type having an accumulating element, a driving assembly therefor, means for moving said accumulating element into and out of engagement with said driving assembly and a readout device, 9s and 1(ls carry circuits each separably operable, said 9s carry circuit being broken by the operation of said lOs carry circuit.

'7. In a cyclically operable accumulating mechanism of the type having an accumulating element and a driving assembly therefor, 9s and lGs carry circuits each separably operable, including operating pawls and contact wires, the 9s carry contact wire remaining in a closed position after closing of the lOs carry circuit, said closing of the lOs carry circuit effecting the breaking of the 9s carry circuit.

8. A denominational order of an accumulator comprising a driving element, a driven element coaxial therewith, means for shifting said driven element axially into engagement with said driving element for rotation thereby, a readout device spaced from said driving element, and a wiper carried by the driven element and movable axially therewith to engage said readout device when the driven element is disengaged and to disengage said readout device when the driven element is engaged with said driving element.

9. A denominational order of an accumulator comprising a driving element, a driven element, means for moving the same into engagement with said driving element for rotation thereby, a stationary readout device, and a wiper carried by the driven element, arranged and constructed to engage said readout device when the driven element is out of engagement with the driving element and to disengage from said readout device when the driven element is in engagement with said driving element.

10. A coupling mechanism for an accumulator comprising a driving element having beveled face teeth on one surface thereof, a driven element facing said teeth and coaxial therewith and having a vane supported on a diameter thereof, configured to slide axially into engagement with a pair of diametrically opposite teeth of said driving element, and means for sliding said driven element toward said driving element.

11. In an accumulator, having denomina- 5 tionally ordered accumulating elements, and an adding magnet for each, a set of l0s carry contacts shifted by each element when the element passes from 9 to 0, a set of 9s carry contacts shifted by each element when the element stands at 9, means for emitting a carry impulse, circuit connections established by the l0s contacts of the units order for transmitting said impulse to the magnet of the tens order when the units order lOs contacts are shifted, further branch circuit 5 connections established by the 9s contacts of said tens order for directing said impulse to the hundreds order magnet when said 9s contacts of the tens order are also shifted, and means controlled by the 10s contacts of said tens order for pre- 0 venting the establishment of said branch circuit No references cited. 

